If you guys are coming to Brooklyn and I have enough notice, I will work around everyone else's schedule as I would likely be traveling the least. I will have to check with my better half tonight to make sure I don't have any conflict/s I don't know about!

Barboncino is appealing because many of us haven't been there and I've heard good things about it. Differentiating between 'old school NY' and 'slice' is tricky for me, because I tend to combine them. I consider Pizza Town a 'slice' place, but I'm pretty sure both you and John Conklin probably put it in a different class. Best is also a bit tricky to classify.

If everyone REALLY wants to go to Totonno's, I'll tag along, but I was thinking that Chau could cover coal on his own with a subway ride up to Patsy's

Those are my thoughts, but, honestly, I think, when it comes to Brooklyn, we should probably be asking you where to go.

That is good, sensible list. I will think about it a bit and then add some suggestions. The ease of getting from one of these places to the next should factor in a little so that way we aren't skipping all over. I agree with the idea of trying to hit these places earlier in the day for our purposes (so we can geek out unfettered and get doted on ). Are there any neighborhoods or landmarks that are of interest as well (e.g. http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/ is pretty neat and there is a very solid "regular" gas deck place near it -- Fascati)? Totonno's is near enough to Nathan's that we could pop into Nathan's real quick for those that want to check it off their bucket list. Of course if the focus should be or needs to be solely on pizza that is fine too, just might be nice to work it all in together and make the experience a little fuller/richer. The drive from Totonno's to L&B ain't bad either...

Man I wish I could go to NY. I have to keep working to pay for my pizza habit

One question tho... My wife just got back from NYC and she went to Jon Waxman's Barbutto's. They had the pizza and she said it was the best ever. We go to Chris Bianco's place on occasion and she said no contest? WT Heck?

I never hear you NYC guys even mention it. Did she have to many martini's before she went and her judgement was clouded?

Man I wish I could go to NY. I have to keep working to pay for my pizza habit

One question tho... My wife just got back from NYC and she went to Jon Waxman's Barbutto's. They had the pizza and she said it was the best ever. We go to Chris Bianco's place on occasion and she said no contest? WT Heck?

I never hear you NYC guys even mention it. Did she have to many martini's before she went and her judgement was clouded?

I haven't had it and I do like and admire Jonathan, but cheffy pizzas usually aren't "great" -- it is not a core competency of theirs generally. That said, I have no doubt it was delicious in its own way/within the context of being in NYC, at a beautiful, well regarded restaurant helmed by a "famous" chef -- probably didn't hurt your wife's perception of the pizza.

scott123

Also, where do you want to go? I really want to try and cater to the people that will be traveling the furthest. Chau is leaving it up to us. Is there anywhere that you really want to hit? Also, you've been hitting these places quite a lot on recent trips- is there anywhere that you'd like to avoid?

Also, where do you want to go? I really want to try and cater to the people that will be traveling the furthest. Chau is leaving it up to us. Is there anywhere that you really want to hit? Also, you've been hitting these places quite a lot on recent trips- is there anywhere that you'd like to avoid?

Probably around 5ish on the 10th, but not positive.

I don't particularly care where we go. I'm in it to hang out with you guys. Barboncino maybe? Franny's? Dannatella?

CL

Logged

"We make great pizza, with sourdough when we can, commercial yeast when we must, but always great pizza." Craig's Neapolitan Garage

Now... I'd like, if possible, to get a confirmation that the pizza quality hasn't dropped, from someone who's been there recently. If we can get that, I'm on board- especially if we do other Manhattan places like Keste or Don Antonio.

I've seen photo's of Barboncino's offerings (that looked pretty amazing), but I'm not sure that they qualify as a true representation of Neapolitan that Chau is seeking. We may need to do Barboncino + one other Neapolitan place.

I'm sorry I forgot about your Franny's review. So, you're telling me that you'd go back after the whole "we only have basil 3 months a year" fiasco?

I have heard from some reliable sources that said they were not impressed with Donatella, yet some others have told me they liked it a lot. The pizza heads thought less of it than the regular folks. I haven't been yet because a friend of mine had unbearably salty food there -- so salty they actually couldn't eat it, pizza included. Could have just been an off day though.

I have always enjoyed Franny's and the apps are amazing in my experience (as are the seasonal cocktails). Yes it is a "fussy" place but part of that is what makes the food as good as it is...you can't say they don't have standards!

Lucali's construction is basically a less oily Di Fara on a cracker crust (the sauce and cheese are the stars). It is not bad per se but those that believe crust is the most important part of pizza will be disappointed -- the bones are, IMO, entirely inedible. That said, Lucali is an experience and the environment is kinda like a little Paulie's -- it is a sexy, sexy restaurant, the waitresses are truly gorgeous Italian girls -- it could be worse, that is faw shaw . Carroll Gardens (where Lucali is) is my all time fav neighorhood in all of NYC -- old mobsters, conversing in their regional dialect/s, play bocce in the local park there and the Italian pastries and sandwiches in that area are no joke.

Fascati is a lot like Joe's -- very thin (but slightly less "done"). I mentioned it primarily for if any of the other choices where down in DUMBO or Brooklyn Heights. Fascati is a good example of the style if you/one is in the area anyway, but not a destination slice. Wild Rise is in DUMBO and is one of if not the only sourdough leavened pizza in NYC. So there are some places in that area worth hitting...